Canon unveils 5 new entry- and mid-level Powershot cameras

Today was Nikon’s day at CES 2016, with the release of their D5, D500 and Keymission 360. But that didn’t stop Canon from introducing a handful of their own cameras.

Earlier today, Canon proudly lifted the veil on five new Powershot cameras, ranging from entry-level point-and-shoots to mid=level superzooms.

We’ll take a brief look at Canon’s new cameras, starting with the lower-end and making our way up.

First up is the Powershot ELPH 180, a very basic point-and-shoot with an 8x zoom and 20-megapixel CCD sensor. Inside is Canon’s DIGIC 4+ Image Processor, which helps power its Auto Zoom feature, which will automatically keep subjects filling the frame when shooting 720p video. The ELPH 180 comes in both red and silver and will retail for $119 when it drops in February 2016.

Next up is the PowerShot ELPH 190 IS, a slightly more robust camera with 10x image stabilized zoom lens and 20MP CCD sensor. Besides the increased zoom range, the ELPH 190 IS includes WiFi and NFC connectivity for easy transfer and upload of images. Like its less-powerful sibling, the ELPH 190 IS features 720p video capabilities. The ELPH 190 IS will come in black, blue and red when it hits shelves in February 2016 for $159.

In the middle of Canon’s announcements is the ELPH 360 HS, a mid-tier point-and-shoot with a 20.2-megapixel 1/2.3″ CMOS image sensor, 12x image stabilized zoom lens, WiFi/NFC connectivity and 1080p video capabilities. A 3” 461k-dot LCD screen gives you a bit more real estate to work with when composing and reviewing photos. ELPH 360 HS will be available in purple and silver when it hits stores for $209 in February 2016.

Stepping up the game is the brand new PowerShot SX420 IS, a mid-range superzoom with a 20.0MP 1.2.3″ CCD image sensor, 42x optical zoom lens (24–1008mm 35mm equivalent) and DIGIC 4+ image processor. In addition to standard image stabilization in the lens, the SX420 IS is capable of detecting multiple shooting modes that will automatically convert to panning mode, macro mode and tripod mode, the latter of which will detect when you’re shooting on a tripod and disable image stabilization. If you want to shoot video, the SX420 IS can capture 720p video at 25 frames per second. SX420 IS will come in black and red when it drops in February 2016 for $299.

Rounding it up, Canon introduced its most powerful superzoom, the SX540 HS. With a 20.3MP 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor and 50x (24–1200mm 35mm equivalent) optical zoom, this thing packs quite a punch. Inside is a DIGIC 6 image processor. Like the SX420 IS, the SX540 HS features multiple image stabilization modes for better creative control. Unlike the other cameras, this one comes in any color you want…so long as it’s black. You can pick it up for $399 in February 2016.

Overall, these cameras aren’t a vast improvement over their predecessors, but in a market niche that’s very clearly dying, there’s little reason for Canon to invest massive R&D capital into point-and-shoots.

All we can hope is that the money they would’ve normally used for these went towards something a little more welcome…say a full-frame mirrorless.

Ole Henrik Skjelstad is a Norwegian math teacher and landscape photographer who fell in love with photography after receiving his first camera as a birthday present in 2013. You can follow his work on 500px, IG and Flickr.

Adam Frimer is a Guinness World Record holder, producer, and DoP based in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Adam owns a production company that specializes in corporate marketing and brand strategy. His work has been commissioned by Adobe, Microsoft, Nike, Samsung, Dell, AVS, Starbucks, Viber, and WeWork.

His videos have over a hundred million views, have been extensively published by news outlets, and has even received recognition from a few film festivals, such as International Ocean Festival

Tom Saimon is a fashion and editorial photographer based in Haifa, Israel. You can see more of his spectacular work on his website say hi Facebook and Instagram